Window cleaning and the like device



April 1, 1952 D. H. ADAMS wmnow CLEANING AND THE LIKE DEVICE Filed May26, 1948 Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED WINDOW CLEANING AND THE LIKEDEVICE David H. Adams, Whitinsville, Mass.

Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,295

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved power operated handmanipulated window cleaning devices and the principal object of theinvention resides in the provision of a device of the class describedwhich may be used without fluids, i. e., for dry cleaning by means ofdetergents in the form of solids, such as powder; but it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to such use and that theconstruction of the new device lends itself also to other kinds ofcleaning as, for instance, with fluids.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a deviceof the class described comprising a housing which is adapted to begrasped by the operator by one hand, said housing carrying externally areciprocating platform and containing means to reciprocate the same,there being interengageable guide means between the platform and thehousing; the provision of a device as above stated including arubber-like pad on the platform, said pad being adapted to bereciprocated in contact with the surface being cleaned and preferablycontaining pockets for the reception of detergents, whether in the formof soap or dry powder or particles; and the provision of a fabric or thelike covering at the working surface of the above described pad.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of apower-operated, hand manipulated cleaning device as above stated, havinga a shaft therein for connection to a flexible power shaft, the shaft inthe housing being provided with a worm in mesh with a worm gear rotatinga shaft on which the worm gear is mounted; there being a pair ofeccentrics on the worm gear shaft connected to a block on the platform,the latter having interengaging guide means with the housing and beingadapted to be reciprocated by the means above stated on a surface to becleaned, and said platform being supplied with cleaning means such as apad or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is aview in side elevation of a device according to the present inventionshowing the same arranged vertically as it would be in use in washingwindows, walls, etc.; Fig. 2 is a 'section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the rubber pad on a reduced scale.

By way of illustrating the present invention, there is provided ahousing comprising a top I0,

a front wall [2, a rear wall l4, and side walls I6, the bottom of thehousing being open. The top wall I0 is recessed as at 18 for theprovision of a boss or the like 20 journaling a shaft 22 extending intothe housing and terminating in a worm 24 in mesh with a worm gear 26.The worm gear 26 is mounted on and rotates a shaft 28 supported on 'apair of arms 30 disposed in and anchored in the top wall ID by means ofthe V-shaped groove construction illustrated at 32 see Fig. 2. The shaft28 carries a pair of cranks or eccentrics 34 to which are operativelyconnected crank arms 36 connected at their other ends to a block 38,said block in turn being secured to or integral with a slidingreciprocating platform 40.

The sliding or reciprocating platform 40 is provided with upstandingflanges 42, the outside surfaces of which are located on the anglesshown in Fig. 3. These flanges terminate in inwardly directed lugs orstrips 44 taking into corresponding grooves 46 in the side walls [6 ofthe housing, so that the platform 46 will be reciprocated on the housingand will be guided by the construction recited. Each of the flanges 42may be provided with a hole 48 which may be alined with the block 38 soas to provide for attaching the crank arms 36 to the block as by meansof screws or other fasteners 5|].

Secured to the platform 49 there is a rubberlike pad 52 extending thelength of the platform 40 which as will be seen in the drawings, extendsfore and aft of the housing a substantial distance. The bottom of thepad 52 is provided with a series of recesses 54 which in the form shownin the drawings, assume the shape of elongated rounded grooves ortroughs which are adapted to be filled with detergent material 56 sothat the device may be used for dry cleaning of surfaces as well as usedwet with soap, etc.

A pair of garter type fasteners or any other desired fasteners 58 areprovided on the top surface of the platform 40 at the ends thereofexterior of the housing for the purpose of securing at its ends a stripof woven material 60 or the like, this material retaining the detergentin the grooves 54 but allowing a metered quantity thereof to escapecontinuously in small quantities.

It will be seen that this invention provides a power operated, handmanipulated wall, floor and window cleaner which is extremely efficientin operation, although simple in nature so that it cannot easily becomedamaged or get out of order. It can be used either for dry or wetcleaning and although power operated is extremely light in weight due tothe flexible shaft connedtion. The housing and platform may be made ofaluminum or other light weight material so that the device asconstructed need weigh but a few ounces while, at the same time,attaining a new improved efficiency for the purpose stated.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as setforth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A cleaning machine comprising a housing open at one side, areciprocating platform closing the open side, the housing havinglongitudinal guide grooves along opposite side walls, flanges on theplatform, ribs on the flanges received in the grooves, the grooves andribs being longitudinal of the housing and intermediate the height ofthe housing side walls, leaving parts of the latter free for manualgripping for manipulation of the machine, a cross shaft in the housing,a pair of arms supporting the shaft, said arms being mounted in a partof the housing, crank arms connected-to the platform and eccentricallyto the shaft, and means to drive the cross shaft.

2. A cleaning machine comprising a housing open at one side, areciprocating platform closing the grooves, the grooves and ribs beinglongitudinal of the housing and intermediate the height of the housingside walls, leaving parts of the latter free for manual gripping formanipulation of the machine, a cross shaft in the housing, a pair ofarms supporting the shaft, said arms being mounted in a part of thehousing, crank arms connected to the platform and eccentrically to theshaft, and means to drive the cross shaft, a resilient shoe on theplatform, said shoe having a series of parallel grooves therein,detergent material in the grooves, and a porous covering for the groovesand detergent material therein.

DAVID H. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 729,187 King May 26, 1903 769,341Garnet Sept. 6, 1904 813,800 Johnson Feb. 2'7, 1906 879,466 HoltzmanFeb. 18, 1908 2,450,919 Runnels 1 Oct. 12, 1948

